Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Laver Cup: No fairytale ending for tearful Federer

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were beaten by Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe in the former's last ever match of his career at the Laver Cup.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer

Bengaluru, September 24: A tearful Roger Federer bid goodbye to a 25-year career with defeat at the Laver Cup 2022 in a doubles contest that went past midnight at the 02 Arena London where there was drama ahead of the match when an environmental protester lit a portion of the court and his own arm on fire.

Federer teamed with long-time rival Rafael Nadal against American duo Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock as Team Europe face Team World.

After winning the first set, the Swiss and the Spaniard were faced with a spirited fightback from Tiafoe and Sock, who won a second-set tie-break before also clinching the match tie-break to seal victory 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), 11-9.

Roger Federer got his timing right: Gaurav NatekarRoger Federer got his timing right: Gaurav Natekar

There had been a great atmosphere in London on Friday for the fifth edition of the three-day competition

There was drama before the match when a protester, wearing a T-shirt with the message, "END UK PRIVATE JETS" on, set their arm alight on court before being escorted out by security.

Federer, 41, had not played a match since he was knocked out of Wimbledon by Hubert Hurkacz at the quarterfinal stage last year due to knee injury.

Laver Cup 2022: Schedule, Results, Teams, Previous Winners, Telecast and Live Streaming InformationLaver Cup 2022: Schedule, Results, Teams, Previous Winners, Telecast and Live Streaming Information

There were huge cheers when Federer and Nadal came onto the court and loud roars for the Swiss great when he came up with his first winner.

There was a sensational moment in the first set when Federer appeared to have won a point after his shot hit the top of the net and bounced in, only for a replay to show the ball had somehow been hit through a small hole between the net and the post, meaning Team Europe lost the point, despite the remarkably unlikely event of the ball passing through such a gap.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were among Federer and Nadal's team-mates offering some tactical input between games, and the legendary duo had to save a first break point of the match before the Spaniard held to put them 5-4 up.

It was two of the all-time greats that took a tight opening set when Sock put a volley into the net, prompting Team World captain John McEnroe to tell his doubles pair they appeared to be getting "caught up in the hoopla."

A determined Team World managed to level it up after a back-and-forth second set went to a tie-break, with Tiafoe and Sock coming out on top with their superior power and pace.

That took it to a dramatic deciding match tie-break, with every point keeping fans holding their breath, including some trademark Federer magic at 6-7 when he diverted a Sock shot across court for a crowd-pleasing winner.

It looked like the dream script was being followed as Federer served at match point for himself and Nadal, but the former could only hit a shot into the net, before Sock and Tiafoe won the next two points to secure the win for Team World.

It was then hugs all round as respect was paid to the 20-time grand slam winner at the conclusion of a phenomenal career.

Earlier in the day, Casper Ruud drew first blood for the Team Europe, beating Sock 6-4, 5-7, 10-7, before Stefanos Tsitsipas doubled their advantage with an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Diego Schwartzman.

Alex de Minaur then got Team World on the board with a 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 success over home favourite Murray before the late-night main event under the lights.

(With OPTA inputs)

Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2022, 10:36 [IST]
Other articles published on Sep 24, 2022